
| In 1968, in Greensboro, North Carolina, Arthur (Lorenzo) Carnegie/saxes/flutes, vocals, Jake Riley/trombone/vocals, Carle (Wayne) Vickers/trumpet/flute/saxes, vocals, and Abraham (Onion) Miller/saxes/vocals, who had been working as members of the (15 piece) "Fantastic Soul Men Orchestra" backing the ever popular duo of "Sam & Dave", along with Jimmy (JD) Davis/MD/keys/vocals, formed their own band named "Love Men ltd". Then they drove to New City, in a car that they purchased together (a 1956 Chevy), and lived in Spanish Harlem on 49th and Broadway, where Toby Wynn/saxes/vocals, joined them. While performing up and down the eastern seaboard as "Love Men ltd" on a gig in Providence, Rhode Island, Jeffrey Osborne/drums/vocals got with them. After two years in New York, they drove two cars and a trailer to Los Angeles, California, where Jeff's brother Billy Osborne/drums/keys/vocals, Celeste Cole, Jeff's and Billy's home girl/keys/vocals, Henry E. Davis/bass/flute/keys/vocals, Johnny McGhee/guitar, and Robert Santienl/congas, joined them. 1974 found them signing with A & M records as LTD, Love Togetherness & Devotion, and it wasn't long before Los Angeles, as well as the rest of the country, took the band to heart. Jeffrey was moved out front as the lead vocalist, and Alvino Bennett replaced him on drums. The group then went on to produce great songs such as "Love Ballad", "Back In Love Again", "Concentrate On You", "Holding On", and many others. These songs showed the band to have the right combination of well polished soul, funk, and love songs that were perfect for all their audiences. LTD continued to record into the 80's and in 1980 released "Shine On", which netted them another Top 40 hit. Soon after that Jeffrey and Billy Osborne departed to start their solo careers. Andre Ray and Leslie Wilson were then chosen as lead vocalists on their next album "Love Magic" which gave the world two more great hits, "April Love", Andre Ray/lead vocals, and "Kicking Back", Leslie Wilson/lead vocals. Leslie Wilson left to continue his solo career and LTD stayed busy in the music industry by recording for small independent record labels, and doing their own personal music projects. In 1999, a LTD copycat band lost a federal court battle, with the current 5 original members of LTD retaining the rights, and ownership of the name LTD. The 5 current original members, Henry Davis, director/bass/keys/guitar/flute/lead/bg vocals, Jimmy (JD) Davis/MD/keys,vocals, Arthur (Lorenzo) Carnegie/saxes/flute/guitar/vocals, Carle (Wayne) Vickers, trumpet/flute/saxes/vocals, Johnny McGhee/guitar/vocals, along with new members, Andre Ray/keys/lead/bg vocals, Richard Moorings, keys, lead/bg vocals/trombone, and Tefere Hazy/drums/vocals, have been touring all over the U.S. sinse 1999, stay tuned for an up and coming concert in your city soon, Peace. |
| They're back: Classic soul band LTD reunites By BRANDON A. PERRY Indianapolis Recorder Staff Writer (Excerpts) Fans of Vintage R&B/soul music have been given an unexpected present - The kind that makes you want to get up and jam or slow dance with the one you love. LTD, the popular band best known for the No. 1 hits "Love Ballad", "Back in Love Again" and "Holding On When Love Is Gone" has officially announced its return as a touring and recording unit. Although various members have performed occasional concerts over the last six years, the gentlemen of LTD say they are now ready to "bring it on" and reclaim their status as a major force in the R&B genre... "We still maintain our vintage sound, but we have also tried to adopt new things as they fit us, "said James "J.D." Davis, a founding member and keyboardist of LTD. Formed in the late '60s, LTD (Love Togetherness & Devotion), enchanted audiences nationwide with smooth baritone vocals and the band's tight, flawless musicianship. LTD scored a series of popular hits between 1976 and 1981, including the club favorites "We Party Hearty" and "Holding On (When Love Is Gone). "They were also \ known for gorgeous love songs like "Where Did We Go Wrong?" "Share My Love" and "We Both Deserve Each Other's Love." Today the reunited group includes five original members: Carle Vickers (trumpet), Henry Davis (bass), James Davis (keyboards), Lorenzo Carnegie (saxophone), and Johnny McGhee (guitar)..Richard Moorings has replaced original trombonist Jake Riley, who died in 2000, along with Tefere Hazy (drums), has LTD sounding great, looking good, and better than ever before. Andre Ray, who led the 1981 hit "April Love, " is back as LTD's lead singer. "Since we've been performing again we've noticed some people who might seem a little skeptical at first, but after they hear us they say 'Oh yeah, that's happening. The sound is still very much LTD," said Davis. If you don't believe Davis, then check out LTD's Web site, www.4realltd.com and listen to the new lineup play "Love Ballad" and "Love to the World" at a recent show. "The group definitely has a special vibe that's still there and we feel it each and every time that we perform, "said Moorings. "I was a fan long before I was a member and it feels really good to bring the group back. It's still the real thing." |


